SAFF Championship 2013: "There should be an Indo-Pak football series" – Zesh Rehman Interview

FILE PHOTO: Pakistan’s Zesh Rehman during his stint with Bradford City. He currently plays for Hong Kong’s Kitchee FC

Outside the SAFF Championship, India and Pakistan don’t meet in senior international football these days, so their clash at SAFF 2013 was cherished by the players and fans.

2005 was the last time the arch rivals faced each other outside this tournament when Pakistan hosted India for a three-match series.

Several Pakistan players and even their federation have suggested that it’s high time India return the favour by hosting a similar series. Pakistan’s most famous player, Zesh Rehman also talked about the need of a bilateral series to not only improve ties between the countries, but also give more international exposure to the two national teams.

“Football and sport in general is so powerful that it brings countries together and helps break barriers. We see such series taking place in cricket, so they should do it in football too. It will be good for the relations between the countries and also for the players as they would get to play more international matches. It’s a win-win [situation],” Zesh told Sportskeeda in an exclusive chat.

In the last two years, India-Pakistan series in the United Kingdom have been cancelled on a couple of occasions, but Zesh feels it would be better to have such matches in Pakistan or India.

However, the former Fulham defender stressed that both Pakistan and India should not be playing just each other or South Asian teams, but also test themselves against the higher ranked teams of the continent.

“It would help to have a game in Pakistan or India as opposed to England I think, because the locals would get a glimpse of international football. But it’s important that the two countries don’t just face South Asian teams. They must also be playing the high ranked nations of Asia for improvement,” he stated.

Zesh revealed that the appointment of Mohammed Shamlan from Bahrain as technical coaching consultant was a big factor behind his return to the national team. The 2013 edition was his first SAFF Championship since 2005 and Shamlan was in the Pakistan coaching staff eight years ago.

“Yes, that was a big factor. He (Shamlan) is a very good coach and everybody can learn a lot from him. I was also in regular contact with the Pakistan football federation. They have always been good to me.

“I really enjoyed playing this tournament and the most pleasing thing was the way we played under the new coach. There was a great spirit between foreign and local players and we were really unlucky not to reach the semifinals. But there are plenty of positives to take from this tournament,” he stated.

Zesh, who now plies his trade with Hong Kong’s Kitchee FC, also gave his opinion about the current India team.

“The current team looks a bit demotivated and flat. Maybe the long training camp has made them tired because they don’t look fresh, but they are a good side with good individual players and have been very lucky as well. Maybe their luck will take them to the final too. In truth, there is not much difference between the teams of this region and it comes down to taking your chances,” Zesh opined.

There has been worldwide publicity about the newly-proposed IPL-style football tournament and the former EPL centre back also gave his views.

“I think it would highlight the football in India and South Asia, but it should be done with a long-term view of improving the local players. If the motive behind the tournament is only publicity, then it won’t help improve the level of Indian football,” Zesh said.

The next edition of the SAFF Championship is likely to be hosted by India, but the 2017 tournament could be held in Pakistan and that news has got Zesh excited.

“To play in it would be great, but it would be even better to win the tournament on home soil. I think if we can keep the same team and learn from the new coach’s ideas, then we can maybe win the next edition. But the coach will have to be given some time to work with local and foreign players, so continuity is important,” he concluded.